JUSTICE SCALIA’S DEATH: A GAME CHANGER

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Justice Antonin Scalia died Saturday at age 79. The fight to replace him couldn’t even wait a day, with Obama vowing to nominate a successor “in due time” and adding “There will be plenty of time for me to do so and for the Senate to fulfill its responsibility to give that person a fair hearing and a timely vote”. We and others have wrote extensively about the consequences of such, and those consequences have definitely not changed.

After Obama selects his nomination, which is expected to come in the next few weeks, the matter will be in the hands of the Republican-held U.S. Senate. A republican Senate has the ability to stall the nomination until after our new President has been sworn in, although it remains to be seen if that will happen. While this scenario has its complications, a Bernie Sanders appointee would be disastrous; this the best option conservatives currently have.

In the fight for the Republican nomination in the 2016 General Election, such an issue naturally took center stage in South Carolina and nationwide the last few days. All candidates have agreed that the best course of action would be for the Senate to stall the issue until our next President takes office. Yet none have speculation as to whom they would nominate if given the chance, except for front-runner Donald Trump.

Trump has increasingly elaborated on the specifics of his proposals in recent weeks, and potential Supreme Court nominees have been no exception. In response to attacks from trailing candidate Ted Cruz, Trump stated that the two potential nominees he thought would “best represent the conservative values we need to protect”: William “Bill” Pryor Jr. and Diane Sykes.

Pryor, a judge with the 11th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals, identifies as being conservative and is a Catholic whom deeply desires to preserve religious liberty. His nomination to the Court of Appeals was opposed by liberals, citing his stating that Roe v. Wade (legalized abortion) was the “worst abomination in the history of constitutional law”. Sykes, a judge with the 7th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals, is a former Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and also identifies as conservative. Sykes has notably ruled in favor of both religious liberty and the Second Amendment. The Court of Appeals is generally considered a “breeding ground” for future Supreme Court appointees, and half of the current justices were formerly Court of Appeals judges. Both were appointed to the Court by former President George W. Bush. Either would be outstanding nominations, as would some other bright conservative minds in the legal profession.

Although, a conservative nominee is unattainable unless our senators hold firm on the issue. The best option for a citizen’s voice to be heard remains contacting the 2 U.S. Senators whom represent your state and voicing your concern. Relay to them that the notion of our current President, with an approval rating hovering near 40%, holding any power in this scenario will be unacceptable. Encourage them to stay strong in the wake of political pressure, for this issue could have dire consequences for years to come. As always, enlighten others. We the People DO have a say in the direction of our great nation. Use it!!